Professor Uta Paszkowski, ENSA Co-Director and Professor of Plant Sciences at the University of Cambridge, has been named as a 2026 Top Agri-food Pioneer by the World Food Prize Foundation.
The Top Agri-food Pioneers (TAP) initiative recognises global innovators who are advancing agriculture and food systems through science-driven solutions, practical impact and collaborative leadership. In 2026, the Foundation is honouring 40 pioneers from around the world as part of its 40th anniversary celebrations.
Uta is internationally recognised for her pioneering research into beneficial relationships between plants and soil fungi, known as arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses. These ancient partnerships help crops access nutrients from the soil and have significant potential to support more sustainable agricultural systems.
Throughout her career, Uta has advanced understanding of how major cereal crops such as rice and maize communicate with beneficial fungi and exchange nutrients. Her research has revealed key molecular mechanisms that enable these interactions and has helped establish rice and maize as leading model systems for studying plant–fungal symbioses.
As Co-Director of ENSA (Enabling Nutrient Symbioses in Agriculture), Uta helps lead an international research effort focused on improving and expanding the use of beneficial microorganisms to support crop nutrition and reduce dependence on synthetic fertilisers. The programme’s work aims to contribute to more sustainable and equitable farming systems worldwide.
“I am deeply honoured to be recognised as a 2026 Top Agri-food Pioneer by the World Food Prize Foundation,” said Uta. “This recognition reflects the dedication, creativity and hard work of the many students, researchers and collaborators I have had the privilege to work with throughout my career. Understanding how crops can partner with beneficial soil microorganisms offers exciting opportunities to support more sustainable agriculture, and I am grateful to see this work recognised alongside so many inspiring innovators from around the world.”
This latest recognition adds to a series of distinguished honours celebrating Uta’s contributions to plant science and sustainable agriculture. Her work spans fundamental scientific discovery and translational research, with a focus on developing nature-inspired solutions to some of agriculture’s most pressing challenges.
Uta’s recognition underscores the growing importance of science-led crop innovation in building more resilient, sustainable and equitable food systems for the future.
The 2026 Top Agri-food Pioneers will be recognised during the Borlaug Dialogue in Des Moines, Iowa, later this October.